Personality and Substance Abuse

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer looks at evidence linking substance abuse, either alcohol or other substances, to an increased incidence of personality disorders. This study expands on previous studies and explores the link between happiness and depression stemming from a number of personality disorders. This study explores the relationship between depression resulting from personality disorders and substance abuse. It demonstrates that substance abuse is more prevalent in those with depression than those that experience happiness as a result of their personality disorder. The writer concludes that this research study provides valuable information that will help researchers to better understand the relationship between emotional states and addiction.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Research Problem
Background
Method
Rationale
Procedure
The Research Instrument
Data Analysis
Discussion

From the Paper:

"These studies are limited due to their inability to establish causality, let alone the direction of causality between the two comorbidity factors. This research will help to determine one potential cause of addiction associated with personality disorder. If the hypothesis in this research holds true then clinicians will know that it is not necessarily the personality disorder that is linked to addictive behaviors, but that the depression associated with it is to blame. Those that are happy are expected to be less likely to engage in addictive behaviors than those with depression."
"Personality was a significant predictor of the likelihood that a teen would turn to alcohol or other substance abuse. It was found that teens with certain personality traits had a greater chance of developing alcoholism than those that did not have these traits. Bowden-Jones et al., found that not only was there a correlation between personality disorder and the presence of substance abuse, there was also a quantitative relationship as well. As the severity of the personality disorder increased, so did the symptoms of substance abuse."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bowden-Jones, O., Iqbal, M., Tyrer, P., Sieverwright, N., Cooper, S., Judd, A., & Weaver, T. (2004). Prevalence of personality disorder in alcohol and drug services and associated comorbidity. Society for the Study of Addiction. 99: 1106-1314.
• Bucholz, K., Hesselbrock, V., Heath, A., Kramer, J., & Schuckit, M. (2000). A latent class analysis of antisocial personality disorder symptom data from a multi-centre family study of alcoholism. Addiction. 95 (4): 553-567.
• Craig, R., Verinis, J., & Wexler, S. (1985). Personality Characteristics of Drug Addicts and Alcoholics on the Millon Clinical Multiazial Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment. 49 (2): 156-160.
• Epstein, E., Labouvie, E., McCrady, B., Jensen, N., & Hayaki, J. (2002). A Multi-site study of alcohol subtypes: classification and overlap of unidimensional and multi-dimensional typologies. Addiction. 97: 1141-1153.
• Gerra, G., Angioni, L., Zaimovic, A., Moi, G., Bussandri, M., Bertacca, S., Santoro, G., Gardini, S., Caccavari, R., and Nicoli, M. (2004). Substance Use Among High-School Students: Relationships with Temperament, Personality Traits, and Parental Care Perception. Substance Use & Misuse. 39 (20: 345-367.

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